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Product information

Les Carruades de Lafite Rothschild 2021

Bordeaux Blend from Pauillac, Medoc, France, Bordeaux

$495

Closure: Cork

Description

The second wine of Château Lafite Rothschild


“The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is a dark, brooding wine. Dense and plush, with quite a bit of tannin presence, Carruades is quite distinctive in 2021. Blue/purple fruit and floral notes show tremendous primary intensity. Bright acids on the finish add an attractive sense of freshness that is quite appealing. The 2021 is a serious Carruades.”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 91-93 Points. WK 90-92 Points

*En-Primeur terms & conditions apply. Delivery expected late 2024.

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Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Château Lafite Rothschild’s second wine, Carruades de Lafite presents similar characteristics to the Grand Vin, but with its own personality linked to a higher proportion of Merlot and to specific plots that are used to produce Carruades. The name comes from the Carruades plateau, a group of plots acquired in 1845 just next to the vines on the Château hilltop.

50 to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 to 50% Merlot, 0 to 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Aged in oak barrels for 16 to 20 months, 80% in oak barrels (10% new).

About Lafite Rothschild

In the Vineyard

In the Winery

The 2017 Vintage at Lafite Rothschild

From Neal Martin:
“It was easy until flowering,” quipped Eric Kohler when I visited the First Growth, Saskia de Rothschild occupied by visiting royalty. “We were not concerned by frost. There was a long and wet period that began in mid-June until mid-August. We had 250mm of rain in June and July. If the rain had fallen over just three or four days, then it would not have been a big problem, but it was always wet and humid. This meant the fight against mildew was difficult. Also, we are in conversion, our first year in 2021 (L’Evangile began in 2018). We were ready though, as we took enough time to prepare. After the fight [with the inclement weather] there was one month of excellent conditions until 10 September when we really saw the vintage and maturity changing. The first analysis of sugar level was not as high as it had been in 2018, 2019 or 2020, but it was impressive for the conditions we had faced, and after that, the progress in maturity was excellent and restored a lot of hope. We saw some light rain, and this added a bit of pressure and persuaded us not to wait, especially on precocious terroirs. So, we started picking on 22 September, though the heart of the picking was really from 27 September and finished on 8 October. We had been successful in terms of protecting the crop and picked at 33hL/ha at Lafite-Rothschild and 30hL/ha at Duhart-Milon. Maturity was satisfying considering the summer, though we never lost hope. During the vinification, we found good colour and density, the extraction went well, and rapidly we became more confident in 2012. On the Left Bank, we felt it was more difficult for the Merlot as it was more sensitive during the summer, the berries gorged with water and the véraison more spun out compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. So, there is less Merlot in Duhart-Milon and Lafite-Rothschild. When we know that the maturity is not perfect, we reduce the pumping over and wait to impart concentration through adding the vin de presse (14.5% for Duhart-Milon and 15% Lafite-Rothschild.) This year, it was clear which plots and tanks were designated for the Grand Vin and the Carruades de Lafite, with just one parcel of Merlot from the Plateau de Carruades in the former.”

Where in the World is Lafite Rothschild?

Lafite Rothschild is in the Left Bank of Bordeaux in Pauillac.

91-93 Points

"The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is a dark, brooding wine. Dense and plush, with quite a bit of tannin presence, Carruades is quite distinctive in 2021. Blue/purple fruit and floral notes show tremendous primary intensity. Bright acids on the finish add an attractive sense of freshness that is quite appealing. The 2021 is a serious Carruades."

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

90-92 Points

"A strong effort that demonstrates how much progress this bottling has made over the last 10 to 15 years, the 2021 Carruades de Lafite exhibits aromas of sweet berries, pencil shavings, warm spices and nicely integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively intense, it's seamless and refined, delivering plenty of Lafite character."

William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Where in the world does the magic happen?

Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France

Medoc
Pauillac
Bordeaux
France